Best AK in terms of quality I have seen is the Robinson Armamnet Vepr.

It is a heavy gun built on an RPK reciever. Made in Russia.

AssaultRifler [Team Member]

4/14/2005 6:19:11 PM EST

Every MAK-90 I've seen has something mucked up on it somehow. Had the gas tube that goes from the FSB to the receiver with inside rust, another one a canted FSB. However, I cant get into the Romanians and their trigger slap, sure it can be fixed but it sholdn't be built that way in the first place.

How can you rank chinese over hungarian and polish? I would have to say that polish and hungarian are a tie for quality and they are higher than chinese. Some Maadis are on par with russian guns also.

selfishselfless [Dealer]

4/14/2005 6:38:55 PM EST

100% Agree. I would also choose Maadi over Chinese any day!

Sammy

Originally Posted By Fargo:How can you rank chinese over hungarian and polish? I would have to say that polish and hungarian are a tie for quality and they are higher than chinese. Some Maadis are on par with russian guns also.

lancew [Member]

4/14/2005 6:40:06 PM EST

I'd actually rank the Chinese as the most robust in construction and actually having the best barrels. Their stampings are thicker on the stamped receivers and their milled receivers are forged. The chrome lining in the barrels in unparalleled IMO because the make so many of the darn things and the lining seems to be thick but consistent.

The Bulgarian Arsenal Inc rifles appear to be well constructed. I do not have experience with them yet other than handling. I do not know about their barrel quality, but their milled receivers are forged. They are probably the best deal in a new AK out there, and certainly the most variety in configurations available.

Pre-Ban Maadis and the earlier all-Maadi thumbholes (with welded muzzle nuts) are well made where it counts, although somewhat rough in finish. I did have one that the chamfering operation for the extractor was missed, and it wouldn't chamber a round (extractor wouldn't slide over the case rim), but a little judicious work with a dremel duplicated the factory chamfer and solved the problem. The Maadi's shoot very well - and are authentic to the original AKM design.

AKM47 [Member]

4/14/2005 7:32:52 PM EST

I have an Arsenal Inc. Sam-7 and it is an excellent rifle, probably the best you can get that is commercially made and manufactured in the US.

If you are looking to spend a lot of money I can strongly suggest having Chris at AK-USA build you one. His ak's are of the best quality that i have ever seen. I had him build me an ak-105 clone and in the next month or so he is going to start building me a Hungarian AMD-65.

So it really depends on how much money that you are willing to spend but if I were you, I would start off buying an Arsenal that is commercially made because it is a great rifle and will also be less expensive as oppose to having one custom built.

I like the custom builds now because you are getting a top quality rifle and you can have it built almost anyway that you want it.

8416w [Member]

4/14/2005 7:52:35 PM EST

Go with the Bulgarian AK's. I have a Bulgarian AK74 that I purchased from Chris Butler with AK-USA and it is a outstanding firearm. I would strongly suggest this rifle due to it having an actual Bulgarian receiver on it, not an American made one. Just my opinion. Oh buy the way, it is very accurate. 2" groups open sights with quality RWS 5.45x39 ammo at 100yds no problem.

garr [Team Member]

4/14/2005 8:09:47 PM EST

In Order. 1) Yugoslavian, The Nicest AK I have ever seen is a Yugo I purchased mid 80s.2) Bulgarian (Mr Kalishnikov Himself was quoted as saying the Bulgarians make the best AK) 3) Russian4) Chinese, Poly Techs with the spike bayonet just do it for me, Although I have heard the Bolt/Carrier metal is soft, I have no Idea if this is fact or fiction! 5) Polish6) Hungarian7) Madi(Egypt)8) Romainian

I left out the best AKs made; The Valmets, Galils & Sig 550 series.

RABID [Member]

4/14/2005 9:04:39 PM EST

By quality do you guys mean fit and finish? Sheesh, my romies are as tough as my friends polytechs, maadis, etc, who gives a darn about finish, it's not a custom elephant rifleAs long as it oges BANG every time, cosmetics are a mute point that can be fixed later if desired._________________________________________________Dirty deeds....done dirt cheap

Fargo [Member]

4/14/2005 9:34:11 PM EST

Originally Posted By RABID:By quality do you guys mean fit and finish? Sheesh, my romies are as tough as my friends polytechs, maadis, etc, who gives a darn about finish, it's not a custom elephant rifleAs long as it oges BANG every time, cosmetics are a mute point that can be fixed later if desired._________________________________________________Dirty deeds....done dirt cheap

Romanian factory hi-cap guns like the Sar series have perfect receivers. Barrels are fine but barrel parts (like the quality of the front sights) leave much to be desired. Nothing wrong with the romanians also. So many of them around they arent the "golden egg".

dogear [Member]

4/14/2005 10:21:02 PM EST

I read that the Norinco AK47 was chosen by the Navy Seals as their AK47 of choice after testing all the variants. It was their heftier receivers and barrels. That includes the MAK90 versions. The Norincos I've had (5) were solid guns.

eodinert [Member]

4/14/2005 11:15:03 PM EST

If they are like most military guys I know, special ops or not, I doubt they know all the variants, the countries they were made in, or the differences between them.

you guys are lumping 50 years of ak's together wich make no since like the russian rifles they went from good to bad to good and bounced all over the place really depinds on the year same gos for alot of them altho most did go downhill and just say down id also say the hung rifles are top 3 you guys have been getting beatdown amd's dirt cheap for so long you think they are crap look at the mechine work in them its excellent i think i gotta put bulgarian at the top but i would still take a russian in a heartbeat over a bulgi

GenghisKhan [Member]

4/15/2005 3:07:08 AM EST

Originally Posted By MST2:Best AK in terms of quality I have seen is the Robinson Armamnet Vepr.

It is a heavy gun built on an RPK reciever. Made in Russia.

+1

Their may be nicer ones out their like the Finish ones that I do not even think you can buy but I will spend $550 on a Vepr no problem. However personaly I would never spend what they ask for some AKs. Just my two cents.

thedukeryan [Team Member]

4/15/2005 3:11:58 AM EST

I agree Hungaian Ak's are very high in quality . If the same kits on the market where limited to a small amount and priced much higher than the $50-$60 that you could originally get a 65 for people would probably think more highly of them.

Saguaro [Team Member]

4/15/2005 3:33:14 AM EST

I'm certainly no AK guy by any stretch of the imagination, but here's my 2 cents. Owned a SAR-1--it did not go bang every time. Double-fired and failed to feed every time. When I got it fixed, the trigger slapped like a bitch. Hated it. Sold it. Shot a .223 Chinese AK last week. It was OK I guess, but it also had a noticeable trigger slap. Didn't care for it. The Bulgarian AKs I've handled look real nice, but haven't had a chance to shoot one yet.

Buy an M1A or an AR.

Msokol13 [Team Member]

4/15/2005 9:25:47 AM EST

Here's the BEST right here.Arsenal Inc.(Las Vegas) AK-74 modified by Chris ak www.AK-103.com

It cost a pretty penny but by far the best finish in the industry, even more durable then the real Russian Enamel.